English and Scottish Ballads Volume V Part 64

With that the tears trickled down her cheeks, And silent was her tongue: With sighs and sobs she took her leave, Away her palfrey sprung. 80

The news struck Robin to the heart, He fell down on the gra.s.s; His actions and his troubled mind Shew'd he perplexed was.

"Where lies your grief?" quoth Will Scad.l.c.k, 85 "O master, tell to me: If the damsel's eyes have pierc'd your heart, I'll fetch her back to thee."

"Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood, "She doth not cause my smart; 90 But 'tis the poor distress'd princess, That wounds me to the heart.

"I'll go fight the giants all To set the lady free:"

"The devil take my soul," quoth Little John, 95 "If I part with thy company."

"Must I stay behind?" quoth Will Scad.l.c.k, "No, no, that must not be; I'le make the third man in the fight, So we shall be three to three." 100

These words cheer'd Robin to the heart, Joy shone within his face; Within his arms he hugged them both, And kindly did imbrace.

Quoth he, "We'll put on motley gray, 105 And long staves in our hands, A scrip and bottle by our sides, As come from the holy land.

"So may we pa.s.s along the high-way, None will ask from whence we came, 110 But take us pilgrims for to be, Or else some holy men."

Now they are on their journey gone, As fast as they may speed, Yet for all their haste, ere they arriv'd, 115 The princess forth was led,

To be deliver'd to the prince, Who in the list did stand, Prepar'd to fight, or else receive His lady by the hand. 120

With that he walk'd about the lists, With giants by his side: "Bring forth," said he, "your champions, Or bring me forth my bride.

"This is the four and twentieth day, 125 The day prefixt upon: Bring forth my bride, or London burns, I swear by Alcaron."[L128]

Then cries the king, and queen likewise, Both weeping as they spake, 130 "Lo! we have brought our daughter dear, Whom we are forc'd to forsake."

With that stept out bold Robin Hood, Crys, "My liege, it must not be so; Such beauty as the fair princess 135 Is not for a tyrant's mow."

The prince he then began to storm, Cries, "Fool, fanatick, baboon!

How dare you stop my valour's prize?

I'll kill thee with a frown." 140

"Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel,"

Thus Robin began to reply, "Thy frowns I scorn; lo! here's my gage, And thus I thee defie.

"And for those two Goliahs there, 145 That stand on either side, Here are two little Davids by, That soon can tame their pride."

Then the king did for armour send, For lances, swords, and shields: 150 And thus all three in armour bright Came marching to the field.

The trumpets began to sound a charge, Each singled out his man; Their arms in pieces soon were hew'd, 155 Blood sprang from every vain.

The prince he reacht Robin Hood a blow, He struck with might and main, Which forc'd him to reel about the field, As though he had been slain. 160

"G.o.d-a-mercy," quoth Robin, "for that blow!

The quarrel shall soon be try'd; This stroke shall shew a full divorce Betwixt thee and thy bride."

So from his shoulders he's cut his head, 165 Which on the ground did fall, And grumbling sore at Robin Hood, To be so dealt withal.

The giants then began to rage To see their prince lie dead: 170 "Thou's be the next," quoth little John, "Unless thou well guard thy head."

With that his faulchion he wherled about, It was both keen and sharp; He clove the giant to the belt, 175 And cut in twain his heart.

Will Scadlock well had play'd his part, The giant he had brought to his knee; Quoth Will, "The devil cannot break his fast, Unless he have you all three." 180

So with his faulchion he run him through, A deep and ghastly wound; Who dam'd and foam'd, curst and blasphem'd, And then fell to the ground.

Now all the lists with shouts were fill'd, 185 The skies they did resound, Which brought the princess to herself, Who had fal'n in a swound.

The king and queen and princess fair, Came walking to the place, 190 And gave the champions many thanks, And did them further grace.

"Tell me," quoth the king, "whence you are, That thus disguised came, Whose valour speaks that n.o.ble blood 195 Doth run through every vain."

"A boon, a boon," quoth Robin Hood, "On my knees I beg and crave;"

"By my crown," quoth the king, "I grant; Ask what, and thou shalt have." 200

"Then pardon I beg for my merry men, Which are in the green-wood, For Little John, and Will Scadlock, And for me bold Robin Hood."

"Art thou Robin Hood?" then quoth the king; 205 "For the valour thou hast shewn, Your pardons I do freely grant, And welcome every one.

"The princess I promis'd the victor's prize;[L209]

She cannot have you all three." 210 "She shall chuse," quoth Robin; said Little John, "Then little share falls to me."

Then did the princess view all three, With a comely lovely grace, And took Will Scadlock by the hand, 215 Saying "Here I make my choice."

With that a n.o.ble lord stept forth, Of Maxfield earl was he, Who look'd Will Scadlock in the face, And wept most bitterly. 220

Quoth he, "I had a son like thee, Whom I lov'd wondrous well; But he is gone, or rather dead, His name it is young Gamwell."

Then did Will Scadlock fall on his knees, 225 Cries, "Father! father! here, Here kneels your son, your young Gamwell, You said you lov'd so dear."

But, lord! what imbracing and kissing was there, When all these friends were met! 230 They are gone to the wedding, and so to bedding: And so I bid you good night.

35, Of a.

128, Acaron.

209, promise. Ritson.

[30] "This (from an old black-letter copy in Major Pearson's collection) is evidently the genuine second part of the present ballad: although constantly printed as an independent article, under the t.i.tle of _Robin Hood, Will Scadlock, and Little John; Or, a narrative of their victories obtained against the prince of Aragon and the two giants; and how Will Scadlock married the princess_. _Tune of Robin Hood; or, Hey down, down, a down._" Instead of which, in all former editions, are given the following incoherent stanzas, which have all the appearance of being the fragment of a quite different ballad:

Then bold Robin Hood to the north he would go, With valour and mickle might, With sword by his side, which oft had been tri'd, To fight and recover his right.

The first that he met was a bonny bold Scot, His servant he said he would be: "No," quoth Robin Hood, "it cannot be good, For thou wilt prove false unto me.

"Thou hast not been true to sire nor cuz."

"Nay, marry," the Scot, he said, "As true as your heart, Ile never part, Gude master, be not afraid."